Electronic program guide with integrated program listings

ABSTRACT

An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to video systems, and more particularly,to interactive television program guide systems which allow for digitalstorage of programs and program related information.

[0002] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provideviewers with a large number of television channels. Users havetraditionally consulted printed television program schedules todetermine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. Morerecently, interactive electronic television program guides have beendeveloped that allow television program information to be displayed on auser's television.

[0003] Interactive program guides allow the user to navigate throughtelevision program listings using a remote control. In a typical programguide display, television listings are organized into subsets oflistings according to multiple organization criteria and are sorted invarious ways. One approach is to organize program listings into aprogram listings grid. Each row in the grid contains television programlistings for a different channel. The columns in the grid correspond toa series of scheduled broadcast times. The user can scroll up or down toview program listings for different channels or may pan left or right toview information about programs being broadcast at different times.

[0004] Recently, interactive program guides have been developed thatallow for storage of programs selected within the program guide on anindependent storage device, typically a videocassette recorder. Usually,a control path involving an infrared transmitter coupled to an infraredreceiver in the videocassette recorder is used to control thevideocassette recorder. The use of independent analog storage deviceslike videocassette recorders, however, does not allow for the moreadvanced features that might be implemented if a digital storage devicewere associated with the program guide.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninteractive television program guide with digital storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This and other objects of the invention are accomplished inaccordance with the principles of the present invention by providing aninteractive program guide system with digital storage that allows theprogram guide to be used to provide more advanced features thanpreviously offered by interactive program guide systems.

[0007] Program guide data is provided by a data source in a satelliteuplink facility. This information is transmitted to a televisiondistribution facility such as a cable headend via satellite link. Thetelevision distribution facility distributes the information (andtelevision programming signals) to user television equipment on which aninteractive television program guide is implemented. One suitabledistribution scheme involves transmitting television channels anddistributing the information for program listings in the verticalblanking interval of one of the channels or a sideband.

[0008] The user television equipment for receiving and processing thetelevision program listings and program data may include a set-top box.The set-top box is also able to receive the television programmingdistributed by the television distribution facility. The program guideimplemented on the set-top box processes television program listingsinformation and generates display screens (e.g., an interactivetelevision program guide grid) for display, e.g., on a standardtelevision monitor. The user can interact with the television programguide by entering commands via a user input interface. An illustrativeinput interface is an infrared remote control with cursor keys, a“guide” button, a “record” button, a “play” button, an “exit” button, an“info” button, and an “enter”, “select”, or “OK” button. The set-top boxmay store television programming and program information in a digitalstorage device associated with the program guide. The digital storagedevice may be an optical or a magnetic storage device (e.g., a deviceusing writable digital video discs, magnetic disks, or a hard drive orrandom access memory (RAM), etc.).

[0009] The use of a digital storage device associated with the programguide provides the user with more advanced features than could beperformed using an independent analog storage device. For example, thecurrent invention gives the user the ability to store informationassociated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storagedevice thereby providing easy access to program information. The programguide may also provide a global media library for indicating theprograms stored on removable storage media used with the program guide.Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be storedin a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback asif the program were being originally aired. The program guide alsoallows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence ofstored programs or program segments. The program guide may also providefor the transfer of programs and super-programs to other volumes of thedigital storage device or to a secondary storage device.

[0010] Further features of the invention, its nature and variousadvantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system in accordance withthe present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of illustrative usertelevision equipment in accordance with the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of theillustrative television equipment of FIG. 2.

[0014] FIGS. 4-14 are illustrative display screens in accordance withthe present invention.

[0015] FIGS. 15-22 are flow charts of steps involved in the operation ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] An illustrative system 10 in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 12 provides data fromprogram guide data source 14 to television distribution facility 16 viacommunications link 18. There are preferably numerous televisiondistribution facilities 16, although only one such facility is shown inFIG. 1 to avoid over-complicating the drawing. Link 18 may be asatellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, amicrowave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitablecommunications path. If it is desired to transmit video signals overlink 18 in addition to data signals, a relatively high bandwidth linksuch as a satellite link may generally be preferred to a relatively lowbandwidth link such as a telephone line. Television distributionfacility 16 may be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cablesystem headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellitetelevision distribution facility, or any other suitable distributionfacility.

[0017] The data transmitted by main facility 12 to televisiondistribution facility 16 includes television program listings data(e.g., program times, channels, titles, and descriptions) and otherprogram data for additional services other than television programlistings (e.g., weather information, associated Internet web links,computer software, etc.).

[0018] Television distribution facility 16 distributes the televisionprogram listings and additional data to multiple users viacommunications paths 20. Each user has user television equipment 22 fordisplaying the television program listings information using aninteractive television program guide. Communication paths 20 preferablyhave sufficient bandwidth to allow television distribution facility 16to distribute television programming to user television equipment 22. Ifdesired, television programming may be provided over separatecommunications paths (not shown).

[0019] An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 22 isshown in FIG. 2. Television equipment 22 of FIG. 2 receives video anddata from television distribution facility 16 (FIG. 1) at input 26.During normal television viewing, the user tunes set-top box 28 to adesired television channel. The signal for that television channel isthen provided at video output 30. The outputted signal is typicallyeither a radio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g.,channel 3 or 4), or a demodulated video signal, but may also be adigital signal provided to television 36 on an appropriate digital bus(e.g., a bus using the IEEE 1394 standard, (not shown)). The videosignal at output 30 is received by optional secondary storage device 39.Secondary storage device 32 can be any suitable type of analog ordigital program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, adigital video disc (DVD) player with the ability to record DVD discs,etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by set-topbox 28 using control path 34. If secondary storage device 32 is avideocassette recorder, for example, a typical control path 34 involvesthe use of an infrared transmitter coupled to the infrared receiver inthe videocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remotecontrol such as remote control 40. Remote control 40 may be used tocontrol set-top box 28, secondary storage device 32, and television 36.

[0020] The user may also record programs and program data in digitalform on digital storage device 31. Digital storage device 31 may be awritable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable ofhandling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as adisk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.Digital storage device 31 preferably supports a directory structurecontaining information associated with stored entries. This directoryinformation can be stored in one location, for example at the beginningor the end of the storage device. The directory information can also bedistributed (e.g., by storing a portion of such information at the samelocation as each entry). For removable storage media like DVDs, eachstorage unit may have its own directory information, and the programguide may keep a global media library (discussed below).

[0021] Digital storage device 31 can be contained in set-top box 28 orit can be an external device connected to set-top box 28 via an outputport and appropriate interface. If necessary, processing circuitry inset-top box 28 formats the received video, audio and data signals into adigital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file formatsuch as the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard. Theresulting data is streamed to digital storage device 31 via anappropriate bus (e.g., a bus using the IEEE 1394 standard), and isstored on digital storage device 31.

[0022] Television 36 receives video signals from secondary storagedevice 32 via communications path 38. The video signals oncommunications path 38 may either be generated by secondary storagedevice 32 when playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., avideocassette or a recordable digital video disc), by digital storagedevice 31 when playing back a pre-recorded digital medium, may be passedthrough from set-top box 28, may be provided directly to television 36from set-top box 28 if secondary storage device 32 is not included inuser television equipment 22, or may be received directly by television36. During normal television viewing, the video signals provided totelevision 36 correspond to the desired channel to which the user hastuned with set-top box 28. The video signals provided to television 36may also be by set-top box 28 when set-top box 28 is used to play backinformation stored on digital storage device 31.

[0023] When the user wishes to access the features of the program guide,the user may use a “menu” key on remote control 40 or an appropriate keycorresponding to the desired feature. For example, if the user wishes toview programming information, a “guide” key on remote control 40 can beused. When set-top box 28 receives commands from remote control 40 thatinform set-top box 28 that the menu or other feature button has beenpressed, processing circuitry within set-top box 28 supplies informationthat is displayed on television 36 as described further below.

[0024] A more generalized embodiment of user television equipment 22(FIG. 2) is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, program listings,programming and program data associated with the programming(hereinafter “associated program data”) from television distributionfacility 16 (FIG. 1) are received by control circuitry 42 of usertelevision equipment 22. Video signals are typically provided onmultiple television channels. Associated program data and programlistings may be provided on a television channel sideband, in thevertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-banddigital channel, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any othersuitable data transmission technique.

[0025] The user controls the operation of user television equipment 22with user input interface 46. User input interface 46 may be a pointingdevice, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad, voice recognitionsystem, or any other suitable user input device. To watch television,the user instructs control circuitry 42 to display a desired televisionchannel on monitor 45. To access the features of the program guide, theuser instructs the program guide implemented on user televisionequipment 22 to generate a main menu or a desired program guide displayscreen for display on monitor 45.

[0026] The functions of control circuitry 42 may be provided using theset-top box arrangement of FIG. 2. Alternatively, these functions may beintegrated into an advanced television receiver, personal computertelevision (PC/TV), or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, acombination of such arrangements may be used.

[0027] When a user indicates a desire to access the main menu or otherfeature of the program guide (e.g., by entering a command with userinterface 46), the program guide generates an appropriate program guidedisplay screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrative main-menuscreen 50 is shown in FIG. 4. From the main menu, the user can accessany one of a number of features of the program guide. Features indicatedby main-menu screen 50 may include program listings, recordingschedules, the digital storage medium directory, program guide setup,transferring stored entries and super-programs to another volume ordevice, and global media library. These and other features will bedescribed below.

[0028] When main-menu screen 50 is displayed on monitor 45, the user mayaccess a feature by indicating a desire to do so. This can be done, forexample, by using user interface 46 to position movable highlight region56 over the desired feature. If user input interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user can positionhighlight region 56 by, for example, using “up”, “down”, “left”, and“right” cursor keys. The user can then access the desired feature byentering an appropriate command by, for example, using a “select” or“OK” key (hereinafter referred to as “selecting” the entry). Themain-menu screen may also consist of “buttons” which the user “pushes”by entering appropriate commands with user interface 46 (e.g., byhighlighting a button and selecting it). The program guide thengenerates the appropriate program guide display screen for display onmonitor 45.

[0029] When a user indicates a desire to view television programminginformation (e.g, by selecting program listings option 48 from main-menuscreen 50, or by using a “guide” key on remote control 40), the programguide generates an appropriate program listings screen for display onmonitor 45. A program listings screen may contain one or more lists ofprograms organized according to multiple organization criteria (e.g., byprogram type, theme, or any other pre-defined or user defined andselectable criteria) and sorted in various ways (e.g., alphabetically).The program listings screen may be overlaid over a program being viewedby the user or overlaid over a portion of the program in a “browse”mode.

[0030] One approach is to organize program listings into a programlistings grid. An illustrative program listings grid 60 is shown in FIG.5a. Program listings grid 60 has program listings rows 62, 64, 66, and68. Program listings row 62 contains selectable program listings forprograms 1 and 2 on channel 2 (Public Television). Program listings row64 contains selectable program listings for programs 1 and 2 on channel3 (HBO). Program listings row 66 contains selectable program listingsfor programs 1, 2, and 3 on channel 4 (NBC). Program listings row 68contains a selectable program listing for program 1 on channel 5 (FOX).The programs on each channel are typically different.

[0031] Program listings grid 60 preferably has movable cell highlightregion 61, which highlights the current grid cell. The range of movementof highlight region 61 is typically bounded by column 63 on the left, byprogram listings time cells 65 on the top, by screen boundary 67 on theright, and by lower screen boundary 69 on the bottom.

[0032] The user may position highlight region 61 by entering appropriatecommands with user interface 46. For example, if user input interface 46is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user canposition highlight region 61 using “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right”cursor keys. If the user repeatedly moves highlight region 61 until itreaches lower screen boundary 69, further attempts at downward movementcause the program listings to scroll in the vertical direction.

[0033] Similarly, the listings in grid 60 are moved when highlightregion 61 is panned (i.e., moved to the right or left). Panninghighlight region 61 to the right causes the program listings in all ofthe program listings rows 62, 64, 66, and 68 to pan to the left by anequal amount. This allows new program listings to be displayed. Timecells 65 are adjusted accordingly (i.e., by incrementing each cell by 30minutes). If highlight region 61 is panned to the left, the programlistings in rows 62, 64, 66, and 58 pan to the right.

[0034] After a user positions highlight region 61 on a desiredselectable program listing, the user may access a number of programguide features. For example, the user may access additional information(typically text or graphics, but possible video) about the listing byselecting that listing. The user may obtain this information withoutexiting grid 60. The user makes selections by entering appropriateselection commands with user interface 46 (FIG. 3). If user interface 46is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user mayuse a “select”, “OK”, or “info” key to make a selection.

[0035] Making a selection directs the program guide to generate aprogram listing information screen for display on monitor 45. Anillustrative program listing information screen 70 is shown in FIG. 6.Information displayed in information screen 70 may include anyinformation associated with the listing supplied by main facility 12.The information may include, for example, the title of the selection, adescription, episode information, the channel, cast members, parentalcontrol ratings, categories, available language(s), available videoformats, or other information like associated Internet web sites orcomputer software.

[0036] The user can exit program listing information screen 70 byindicating a desire to exit the screen by, for example, enteringappropriate commands with user interface 46 (FIG. 3). If user interface46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user mayfor example, use an “exit” or “last” key to exit the screen. The programguide may respond to a “last” command by generating the previous programguide display screen for display on monitor 45. The program guide mayrespond to an “exit” command by returning the user to normal televisionviewing.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the program guide may also provideselectable listings of programs currently stored on digital storagedevice 49 in any form of list, table, or grid. The listings may beorganized according to selectable organization criteria and sorted. Oneapproach is to use a program listings grid, as shown in FIG. 5b. Thismay be done, for example, by using row 145 of program listings grid 141to indicate currently stored programs, thereby treating digital storagedevice 49 like an additional channel. Multiple rows may be used toorganize listings according to organization criteria (e.g., by theme,program type, or any other pre-defined or user defined selectableorganization criteria). In each row, the listings may be sorted (e.g.,alphabetically).

[0038] Each entry in a different column 147 of row 145 may correspond toa different movie stored on digital storage device 49. To viewadditional titles, the user may, for example, pan right or left by using“right” and “left” cursor keys on remote control 40 of FIG. 2.

[0039] Just like program listings grid 60 of FIG. 5a, program listingsgrid 141 of FIG. 5b may contain highlight region 149 to select listingsin any of the rows, including row 145, and thereby access programlistings information screen 70 (FIG. 6) for a selected listing. If theuser selects a program stored on digital storage device 49 (i.e., alisting in row 145), the program guide responds by obtaining theinformation associated with the listing for display in program listingsinformation screen 70 from digital storage device 49, and by displayingprogram listings information screen 70. The information for programlistings information screen 70 may be stored as a directory entry ondigital storage device 49.

[0040] The user may also select a program stored on digital storagedevice 49 from grid 141 for playback. If user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use a digital“play” key to select the program whose listing in row 145 is surroundedby highlight region 61. The program guide responds by issuingappropriate commands to digital storage device 49 to read the selectedprogram and to display the program. Any non-time-sensitive dataassociated with the program stored on digital storage device 49 may bepresented to the viewer by the program guide just as it was presentedwhen the program was originally aired. This will be described more fullybelow. The program guide may also provide features during playback whichare similar to those provided for by current analog storage technologies(e.g., “fast-forward”, “rewind”, “pause”, and “stop”).

[0041] The program guide may also display an options screen in responseto the user selection of any program listing. Such an option screen mayinclude options like “playback”, “delete”, and “record” that the usermay select on-screen by issuing appropriate commands with user interface46 (e.g, by positioning a highlight region over the desired feature andselecting the feature, or by pushing an on-screen “button” thatrepresents the option).

[0042] The user may select a program and associated program data forrecording on digital storage device 49 without leaving grid 60 or grid141. The user makes selections for digital recording by enteringappropriate selection commands with user interface 46 (FIG. 3). If userinterface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2,the user may use a digital “record” key to select the program whoselisting is surrounded by highlight region 61 for digital recording. Ifdesired, the default recording techniques used by the program guide maybe digital recording.

[0043] Making a selection for digital recording causes the program guideto gather information from the currently loaded digital storage medium.Such information may include the estimated amount of time remaining onthe storage medium (if, for example, the digital storage medium is apartially full disk). The program guide may also check directoryinformation on the digital storage medium and compare it to the selectedprogram listing to determine if the selected program has already beenrecorded. If the program guide determines that the selection has alreadybeen recorded, re-recording is not necessary. The program guide mayretain the information associated with the selected program listing(supplied by main facility 12 of FIG. 1) for access by the user (e.g.,using the recording schedule screen described below).

[0044] In response to an indication by the user to digitally record aselection, the programming guide may generate a recording schedulescreen for display on monitor 45. The recording schedule screen liststhe programs currently scheduled for recording on digital storage device49. An illustrative recording schedule screen 80 is shown in FIG. 7a.Recording schedule screen 80 contains a number of pieces of informationwhich may include, for example, the volume name of the currently loadedmedium, an estimate of the amount of time remaining on the medium, and agrid 81 or other suitable list or table listing the programs currentlyscheduled for recording and relevant recording information. Grid 81 mayinclude the title of the selections, the channel for recording, therecording date and time, and the duration of the selection.

[0045] The user can access the associated program data supplied by mainfacility 12 of FIG. 1 of the programs scheduled to be recorded byindicating a desire to do so (e.g., by positioning highlight region 82on a desired program listing and pressing an “OK” key). In response tosuch an indication, the program guide generates a selected programlisting information screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrativeselected program listing information screen 84 is shown in FIG. 7b. Aselected program listing information screen is similar to a programlisting information screen (see FIG. 6), but may also contain userfields that the user may edit to add information that the user desiresto associate with the program. FIG. 7b shows illustrative userdescription field 85, user category field 86, and user other field 88.The user may edit the contents of these user fields by, for example,using user interface 46 to position highlight region 89 over the desiredfield and indicating the information that the user desires to associatewith the program. If user interface 46 is a remote control such asremote control 40 of FIG. 2, alphanumeric keys on remote control 40 maybe used, or the user may scroll through the alphabet using “up” and“down” keys to select individual letters and thereby form words in theuser fields.

[0046] If all of the information does not fit on a single screen, theuser can scroll downward (and upward) to view the non-displayedinformation by indicating a desire to so by, for example, using “up” and“down” keys on remote control 40. The program guide responds to such anindication by scrolling the screen accordingly and showing thenon-displayed information.

[0047] Recording schedule screen 80 of FIG. 7a may also indicate whichof the selections currently scheduled for recording will fit on thecurrently loaded storage medium (e.g., when a DVD is loaded in a DVDplayer). This may be done, for example, by using bold text or text of adifferent color (see, e.g., M*A*S*H and TERMINATOR listings 89).Selections that cannot fit may be indicated as such by a differentindicator, like dotted line 83. Either or both indicators can be usedand the types shown in FIG. 7a are for illustration purposes only.

[0048] The user can exit recording schedule screen 80 by indicating adesire to do so (e.g., by entering appropriate commands with userinterface 46 of FIG. 3). If user interface 46 is a remote control suchas remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use, for example, an “exit”key to exit the screen. When the command is given, the program guide mayrespond by generating the previous screen for display on monitor 45.

[0049] The user may also view recording schedule screen 80 when not in aprogram listings screen. For example, if user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may accessrecording schedule screen 80 when in main-menu screen 50 of FIG. 4 bypositioning highlight region 56 (FIG. 4) over recording schedule option52 and selecting recording schedule option 52. The user may also accessrecording schedule screen 80 by selecting a program from the programlistings screen and selecting an on-screen “recording schedule” optionfrom a list of on-screen options.

[0050] The user may also select programs and associated program data fordigital recording when not in program listings grid 60 by indicating adesire to do so during normal television operation (e.g., by enteringappropriate commands with user interface 46 of FIG. 3). If userinterface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40, this can bedone by using a “record” key during television viewing. The programguide responds by generating a recording screen for display on monitor45. An illustrative recording screen 87 is shown in FIG. 8. Recordingschedule screen 87 may display information of the program currentlybeing viewed by the user, such as the current channel, begin time, andend time for recording. The program guide may provide the user with theopportunity to edit the displayed information (e.g., the start and endtime) by issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Whenfinished, the program guide may return the user to normal televisionviewing and begin recording the selection, the program guide maygenerate a recording schedule screen for display on monitor 45 so thatthe viewer may see the recording schedule.

[0051] Before recording a new program and associated program data, theprogram guide may automatically cause digital storage device 49 tosearch for available space, and may store the program and associatedprogram data anywhere on digital storage device 49 (e.g., between twoother programs). The program and associated program data may even bestored in non-contiguous space on the storage medium. A best-fitalgorithm may be used to determine where to store the program based onavailable free space and the length and format of the program.

[0052] The program guide may also store associated program data in adirectory entry of digital storage device 49. This data can include, forexample, the date and time the program was recorded, the channel theprogram was recorded on, the time duration of the program, the programtitle and description, cast members, parental control ratings, programcategories, episode information, recorded languages and video formats,Internet links, graphics, or any other information supplied by mainfacility 12 of FIG. 1, the user, or the programmer.

[0053] Along with the program and associated program data, the programguide may also store additional components of a program on digitalstorage device 49. This can include additional video formats, additionallanguages, additional subtitles, or other data that cannot be stored ina directory entry. The program guide will either store all of thesupplied video formats and languages, or store only the variant thatmatches the current viewer profile preferences (described below).

[0054] Unless associated program data is time sensitive, the user mayinteract with the data stream during playback just as when the programwas originally aired. If, for example, associated program data iscomputer software that the user could have accessed when the program wasoriginally aired, the software may be stored on digital storage device49, so that the user can access the software during playback. Suchsoftware may be, for example, shopping software that allows the user toplace orders for purchasing goods offered in the program. Or, a programmay have associated with it an Internet link that the user can selectand access an Internet site.

[0055] The program guide may also allow a user to view the directoryinformation of the currently loaded storage medium. The user can accessthis feature by indicating a desire to do so by, for example, issuingthe appropriate commands with user interface 46. If user interface 46 isa remote control like remote control 40 of FIG. 2, this may be done byusing a “directory” or “list” key. This can also be done by accessingthe main menu 50 (FIG. 4) and positioning highlight region 56 overmedium directory option 53 and selecting medium directory option 53.

[0056] When the user indicates a desire to view the directoryinformation for the currently loaded storage medium, the program guideobtains directory information from digital storage device 49 andgenerates a directory listing screen for display on monitor 45. Anillustrative directory listing screen 90 is shown in FIG. 9. Directorylisting screen 90 may indicate, for example, the volume name andavailable time left on the currently loaded storage medium. Directorylisting screen 90 may also include directory listing grid 91.

[0057] Directory listing grid 91 contains information about entriesstored on digital storage device 49. This information may include any ofthe directory information stored on the medium and may be presentedaccording to the current viewer preferences (described below). It mayinclude, for example, the title, channel, record date, record time andduration of the entries. It may also include an indication of whetherthe entries have been viewed. Because the directory information fordirectory listing screen 90 is stored digitally, it may generally beaccessed rapidly (e.g., in a fraction of a second). This fast accesscapability makes the directory feature easy to use to quickly check thestatus of stored entries. This would not be possible if an analogstorage device such as a standard videocassette recorded were used.

[0058] The program guide may allow the user to access a full view of allof the directory information stored for an entry. The user may accessthis feature while in directory listing screen 90 by indicating a desireto do so by, for example, entering appropriate commands with userinterface 46. If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remotecontrol 40 of FIG. 2, this can be done by positioning highlight region95 over the desired entry using “up” and “down” keys, and then selectingthe entry, or by selecting an on-screen “info” option.

[0059] Once the user indicates a desire to view the full directory entryinformation of an entry, the program guide generates a full entryinformation screen for display on monitor 45. An illustrative full entryinformation screen 100 is shown in FIG. 10. If the full directoryinformation does not fit on one screen, the user can scroll downward(and upward) by indicating a desire to do so by, for example, using “up”and “down” keys on remote control 40. In addition, user-defined fieldsmay be edited by positioning highlight region 101 over any user-definedfield and entering information into the highlighted field (e.g., withalphanumeric keys on remote control 40).

[0060] To exit full entry information screen 100, the user indicates adesire to do so by, for example, using an “exit” key on remote control40. The program guide responds by saving the directory information todigital storage device 49 if the information has changed and generatingthe previous screen for display on monitor 45.

[0061] The program guide allows a user to play back a stored entry whenthe user indicates a desire to do so by entering appropriate commandswith user interface 46. This can be done, for example, by selecting anentry from directory listing grid 91 and using a “play” button on remotecontrol 40, or by selecting an on-screen “play” option from a list ofon-screen options generated by the program guide in response to theselection of an entry by the user. Any non-time sensitive dataassociated with the program may be presented to the viewer by theprogram guide just as it was presented when the program was originallyaired.

[0062] The program guide may also edit a program and its associated datawhen the user indicates a desire to do so. This can by done, forexample, by entering appropriate commands with user interface 46. Ifuser interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG.2, then this can be done by using “delete” keys in a particular way(such as by using the “delete” key twice), or by using a “partial” key,when the user is in directory listing screen 90. This may also beaccomplished by selecting an on-screen “edit” option provided by theprogram guide in response to the selection of a program listing ordirectory entry.

[0063] Once the user indicates a desire to edit a program, the programguide generates an edit screen for display on monitor 45. Anillustrative edit screen 110 is shown in FIGS. 11a, 11 b, and 11 c.Screen 110 indicates the entry to be edited and other relevantinformation. This information may include, for example, the title,channel, record date, record time, and duration of the entry. Screen 110may also contain edit indicator 115 for indicating the portion of theentry for deletion. Indicator 115 may have start time 116, end time 117,markers 118 and 140, and highlight region 119. Screen 110 may also havevideo feedback area 113 for showing the user the portion of the programcorresponding to the position of markers 118 and 140.

[0064] Highlight region 119 is initially positioned by the program guideso as to surround one of the markers, for example marker 118. The usermay indicate a desired starting time for deleting by positioning marker118 (FIG. 11b). This may be done, for example, by entering appropriatecommands with user interface 46. If user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, this can be done by using“left” and “right” buttons of remote control 40 to slide marker 118 leftand right. As the position of marker 118 is changed, its current timeposition (“marker time”) 120 is displayed as shown in FIGS. 11b and 11c. The beginning portion of a program is edited by leaving marker 118 inits initial position.

[0065] When the desired start time position is indicated by marker 118,the user can select marker 140 to define the end of the program segmentby, for example, using the “OK” key of remote control 40. The programguide responds by positioning highlight region 119 around marker 140.The user may indicate the end time of the portion of the program to bedeleted by, for example, positioning marker 140 in the same way thatmarker 118 was positioned, as shown in FIG. 11c.

[0066] Video feedback area 113 may display the portion of the programcorresponding to markers 118 and 140 as the markers are positioned bythe user. The program guide may also provide the user with theopportunity to view the portion of the program selected for deletion ina “fast-forward” playback mode, once the program portion is selected.

[0067] After the user is finished, the program guide may allow the userto continue to edit additional segments. The program guide may alsoreturn the user to a previous screen (e.g., directory listing screen 90)or to normal television viewing, when the user indicates a desire to doso (e.g., using a “last” or “exit” key on remote control 40). Theprogram guide may also provide the user with the opportunity to confirmthat the portion selected for deletion is properly defined.

[0068] Once the program portion or portions are defined, the programguide issues appropriate commands to digital storage device 49 to deletethe selected program segment, additional components, and associated dataas appropriate. For example, the program guide may immediately displaydirectory listing screen 90 and issue appropriate commands to digitalstorage device 49 to delete the selected portion and update thedirectory information associated with that portion, if appropriate.

[0069] The program guide may also allow the user to define“super-programs”. Super-programs are sequences of programs or programsegments that the guide will play back sequentially in a specifiedorder. The user may indicate the desire to access the super-programfeature by, for example, entering appropriate commands with userinterface 46. If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remotecontrol 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use a “super-program” key on remotecontrol 40 after positioning a highlight region such as highlight region95 of directory listing screen 90 (FIG. 9) over a desired programlisting (e.g., M*A*S*H*), or by selecting an on-screen “super-program”option from a list of on-screen options which are provided by theprogram guide when a program is selected.

[0070] The program guide may also provide the user with the ability toname super-programs and to store them on digital storage device 49.Entries for the named super-programs may be kept in the directorymaintained on digital storage device 49, and may be displayed in screenswhich list directory entries (e.g., directory listing screen 90), alongwith the directory entries for program listings. For example, whendirectory listing screen 90 is displayed by the program guide, theprogram guide may provide the user with the opportunity to select anamed super-program.

[0071] In response to the user selection of a named super-program, theprogram guide may generate a super-program screen for display on monitor45. The program guide may also provide the user with an on-screen listof options for performing super-program functions (e.g., playing,transferring or editing the super-program).

[0072] When the user indicates a desire to define a super-program, theprogram guide generates a super-program screen for display on monitor45. An illustrative super-program screen 130 is shown in FIGS. 12a and12 b.

[0073] Super-program screen 130 is organized into three areas. Area 131indicates the selections stored on digital storage device 49 (or thecurrently loaded digital storage medium of digital storage device 49).Area 132 indicates the super-program sequence. Video feedback area 137displays the portion of the program included in the super-program.Super-program screen 130 may also indicate the volume name of and timeremaining on the currently loaded storage medium.

[0074] The three areas of super-program screen 130 may also be presentedonly when needed. For example, area 131 may be displayed only when theprogram guide is providing the user with the opportunity to select aprogram stored on digital storage device 49. Once the user has selecteda program, area 131 may be removed and area 132 may replace it while theprogram guide is providing the user with the opportunity to define aprogram segment for inclusion in the super-program. Video feedback area137 may be displayed only in response to an indication by the user tothe program guide to display the program segment. Thus, it may not benecessary for all three areas to be displayed at once.

[0075] To define a super-program, the user indicates which program is tobe included in the super-program sequence. The program guide may alsogive the user the ability to include in the current super-program otherpreviously defined super-programs. Area 131 includes a directory listinggrid 133 for listing the programs and super-programs stored on digitalstorage device 49. If the user interface is a remote control such asremote control 40 of FIG. 2, the user may use “up” and “down” keys toposition highlight region 134 on top of the desired program orsuper-program. The user may then select a program or super-program byusing a “select” or “OK” key on remote control 40. The user may alsoaccess other information associated with the entry by using an “info”key on remote control 40, or by selecting a suitable option from anon-screen options list provided by the super-program. The program guidegenerates a full entry information screen containing informationassociated with the selected program when the “info” key is pressed.

[0076] Whenever the user selects a program, the program guide places theselected entry in the super-program sequence at a defined point in thesequence (e.g., at the end of the sequence). As shown in FIG. 12a, forexample, a first segment entry has been selected by the user and theuser is currently selecting the second segment entry. The segmententries are listed in second area 132. The user then has the option ofdefining the play segment of the program to be played. Indicators 135indicate the currently defined play segment.

[0077] If the user wishes to define a play segment, the user may do so,for example, by using markers 136 to define the segment in the samemanner described for editing programs. As shown in FIG. 12b, the useruses highlight region 134 (positioned by the program guide over one ofthe markers) to move the markers 136 to define the play segment. Videofeedback area 137 displays the portion of the program corresponding tomarkers 136 as markers 136 are individually positioned. The user mayindicate he or she is finished defining the play segment by, forexample, using an “OK” key on remote control 40. The program guide thenresponds to this indication by positioning highlight region 134 (FIG.12a) in first area 131 to allow the user to define another entry in thesuper-program sequence.

[0078] The user may indicate that he or she is finished defining thesuper-program by issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Ifuser interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG.2, the user may use a “play” key to finish editing the super-program andplay the super-program. The user may also select an on-screen “play”option from a list of on-screen options provided by the program guide.

[0079] The program guide responds by issuing the appropriateinstructions to digital storage device 49 to read the programs andassociated program data of the defined super-program sequence. Theprogram guide then instructs television equipment 22 to provide theprogram and any associated data (e.g., software) in the appropriateformat for display on monitor 45 and use by the user as if the user wereviewing the program when it was originally aired. If monitor 45 is atelevision, for example, user television equipment 22 may convert theprogram from its digital format to the appropriate RF or demodulatedvideo signal for display on monitor 45.

[0080] The user may also store the super-program for playback or editingat a later time. The user may indicate a desire to postpone playback by,for example, issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Ifuser interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG.2, the user may use an “exit” key on remote control 40 or select anon-screen “exit” option. Control circuitry 42 responds to an indicationto postpone playback by storing the playback sequence (either in memoryor on the digital storage device). The user may later access thesuper-program by, for example, selecting the super-program while indirectory listing screen 90. The program guide may respond by providingan on-screen list or options (e.g., edit, play back, transfer) that theuser may select from. The program guide may also respond by generating asuper-program screen with the previously entered selections and definedplay-segments, providing the user with the opportunity to add, edit orre-order the programs and program segments.

[0081] The program guide may also allow the user to transfer programsand super-programs stored on digital storage device 49 to other volumesof digital storage device 49 or to secondary storage device 47 (FIG.3.). Secondary storage device 47 may be another storage device availablein the home network system like a videocassette recorder, a recordabledigital video disc device, a computer (with an appropriate storagedevice), or other digital storage device. This feature may be accessedby, for example, issuing appropriate commands with user interface 46. Ifuser interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of FIG.2, the user may use a “record” or “transfer” key when in thesuper-program screen, or, for example, the user may select a “transfer”option from an on-screen list of options provided by the program guidein response to the user selecting a super-program from directory listingscreen 90.

[0082] The program guide responds to this indication by issuingappropriate instructions to digital storage device 49 to read theselected programs and associated data or the programs and associateddata of the selected super-program sequence. The program guide thentransfers the programs and associated data (if possible) in anappropriate format to secondary program data storage device 47. If, forexample, secondary storage device 47 is a videocassette recorder, theprogram guide directs user television equipment 22 to convert thedigitally stored program or super-program into an appropriate analogformat.

[0083] Transferring the data (e.g., software) associated with a programor super-program may not be possible with some analog secondary storagedevices, so the program guide may accordingly ignore the associated dataduring transfer. The program guide may, however, provide for thelabeling of analog storage media with associated data. Program guidesthat provide for labeling videocassettes with program information aredescribed, for example, in Blackwell U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/924,813, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

[0084] The programs and data may also be transferred directly fromdigital storage device 49 to secondary storage device 47 via channel 43if desired. The program guide may also transfer the programs and data toanother volume of digital storage device 49.

[0085] If digital storage device 49 is a device that uses removablerecording media (e.g., floppy disks or recordable optical discs) theprogram guide may also allow a user to view a global media libraryscreen which indicates directory information of removable storage mediaused with the program guide. The user may access this feature byindicating a desire to do so by, for example entering appropriatecommands with user interface 46. If user interface 46 is a remotecontrol such as remote control 40 of FIG. 2, this may be done by, forexample, using a “library” key. This may also be done by accessing mainmenu 50 (FIG. 4) and positioning highlight region 56 over global medialibrary option 57 and selecting media library option 57.

[0086] The global media library may be maintained automatically by theprogram guide. For example, the program guide may store or updatedirectory entry information according to the current viewer preferences(described below) in a central storage area (e.g., random access memory(RAM) or a central hard disk drive) each time directory information isstored or updated on a removable storage medium. The program guide mayalso store unique identifiers identifying the removable storage mediumon which programs are stored (e.g., volume names or media numbers).

[0087] An illustrative global media library screen 250 is shown in FIG.13. Global media library screen 250 may display program listings in anylist, table, grid or other suitable form that contains information aboutstored entries on removable storage media used in digital storage device49. Listings may be grouped into subsets of listings according tomultiple organization criteria and sorted in various ways. Anotherapproach is to display the listings in a library listing grid, such aslibrary listing grid 251. Library listing grid 251 may include a row foreach removable storage medium used with digital storage device 49 (e.g.,rows 261, 262, 263, 264, and 265), and columns for each program storedon each removable storage medium (e.g., columns 271, 272, and 273). Auser may access additional storage media and additional programs notdisplayed by, for example, scrolling up and down or panning left andright.

[0088] Just like directory listing screen 90 of FIG. 9, global medialibrary screen 250 of FIG. 13 allows the user to access features of theprogram guide already described (e.g., by positioning highlight region257 around a listing and selecting the listing), which may includeaccessing a full entry information screen, playing back, deleting andpartially deleting programs, and defining super-programs containingprograms from different storage media. These features may also beaccessed by the user by selecting the desired feature from a list ofon-screen options provided by the program guide in response to theselection of a listing by the user.

[0089] If the user indicates a desire to access a feature of the programguide which operates on a medium that is not currently loaded in digitalstorage device 49, the program guide may automatically change the loadedstorage medium if digital storage device 49 has the ability to do so.Digital storage device 49 may be, for example, an optical jukebox withmultiple recordable optical discs. If the user selects a program on adisc not currently positioned before a read/write head of the jukebox,the jukebox re-arranges the discs until the disc with the selectedprogram is positioned for reading or writing. If the disc with theselected program is not in the jukebox, the program guide may displayindication 255 to the user that the disc must be loaded. The programguide may also display such an indication if, for example, digitalstorage device 49 is a floppy disk drive and the disk with the selectedprogram is not in the drive. Indication 255 may include a uniqueidentifier identifying the unloaded storage medium. Preferably, theunique identifier is not displayed for the user unless the requiredremovable storage medium is not loaded.

[0090] If digital storage device 49 uses removable storage media (e.g.,floppy disks or recordable optical disks), the program guide may providethe user with the opportunity to enter an identifier that identifies theremovable storage medium on which the program is stored. The identifiermay be a volume name, a medium number, or other suitable uniqueindicator.

[0091] The program guide may also allow the user to choose variousselectable options and select the types of information for display invarious screens. The user can access this feature by indicating a desireto do so by, for example, using user interface 46 to enter appropriatecommands. If user interface 46 is a remote control such as remotecontrol 40 of FIG. 2, the user can indicate a desire to access thisfeature by selecting set-up option 54 from the main menu screen of FIG.4, or by using a “set-up” key on remote control 40.

[0092] When the user indicates a desire to access the set-up feature ofthe program guide, control circuitry 42 generates a set-up screen fordisplay on monitor 45. The set-up feature allows a user to selectoptions and set user preferences. An illustrative set-up screen 120 isshown in FIG. 14. Set-up screen 120 can be organized into parts. Forexample, one part may be used to handle entry information displayoptions, another may be used to handle storage options, and another maybe used to handle playback options.

[0093] Entry information area 121 is an example of how set-up screen 120may be used to display selectable components that the user may selectfor display in screens that display program information (e.g., programlistings grid 50, recording schedule screen 80, and directory listingscreen 90). Unselected directory components cannot be viewed from suchscreens, and can only be viewed in full information view (e.g., programlisting entry information screen 70 and full entry information screen100).

[0094] Storage option area 122 allows the user to select optionsrelating to storage. For example, the user can select the languagetracks or video formats for storing with a program. The user can alsoset whether a parental control feature applies to the recording ofprograms which do not meet certain parental control criteria. The usermay also choose whether the program guide automatically erases entriesfrom digital storage device 49 once the entries are viewed. When erased,an entry's directory information and additional components are alsoremoved from digital storage device 49.

[0095] Playback option area 133 allows the user to select optionsrelated to playback. One selectable feature, for example, is a skipcommercial feature. If active, the program guide attempts to distinguishprogram material from advertisements based on data recorded with theprogramming or other suitable cues. Any material identified asadvertising is automatically skipped during playback. The user may alsoset default languages and video formats for playback.

[0096] Steps involved in operating the program guide of the presentinvention are set forth in FIGS. 15-20. FIG. 15 illustrates an overviewof steps involved in accessing a number of features of the programguide. The steps illustrated by FIGS. 15-20 are illustrative and may beperformed in any order.

[0097] At step 400 of FIG. 15, the programs and associated program dataare stored on digital storage device 49 using the program guide. At step402, additional components are digitally stored. At step 404, theprograms and associated program data are displayed on monitor 45 (FIG.3) using the program guide. The programs and associated-program data maybe displayed on monitor 45 so as to provide the user with access to theprograms and associated program data as if the programs and associatedprogram data were being originally aired, as set forth in step 406.

[0098] At steps 408, 410, 412, and 414 the program guide displays onmonitor 45 a set-up screen (such as set-up screen 120 of FIG. 14), arecording schedule screen (such as recording schedule screen 80 of FIG.7a), a program listings screen (such as a screen containing programlistings grid 60 of FIGS. 5a and 5 b), and an edit screen (such as editscreen 110 of FIGS. 11a, 11 b, and 11 c). At step 416, the program guidetransfers the programs and associated program data (if possible) toanother volume of digital storage device 49 or to secondary storagedevice 47 (FIG. 3).

[0099]FIG. 16 illustrates steps involved providing the user with theability to define selectable options. At step 424, the program guideprovides the user with the opportunity to define storage options. Iflanguage, video format, enforcement of parental control, and auto-erasestorage options are provided (FIG. 15), the program guide stores theprograms and associated program data on digital storage device 49according to how the storage options are defined as set forth in steps426, 428, 430, and 432 respectively.

[0100] The program guide may also provide the user with the opportunityto define playback options, as set forth in step 434. If defaultlanguage, default video format, and skip advertising playback optionsare provided, the program guide displays the programs and associatedprogram data on monitor 45 according to how the options are defined asset forth in steps 436, 438, 440, respectively.

[0101]FIG. 17 illustrates steps involved in providing a user with theopportunity to record programs and associated program data on digitalstorage device 49. At step 410, the program guide displays a recordingschedule screen, such as recording schedule screen 80 of FIG. 7a, onmonitor 45. At step 450, the program guide indicates on monitor 45 theprograms currently scheduled for storage on digital storage device 49.At step 452, the program guide provides the user with the opportunity toselect one of the indicated programs.

[0102] The program guide may also display a selected program listinginformation screen, such as selected program listing information screen84 of FIG. 7b, for a selected program on monitor 45 as set forth in step454. The program guide displays one or more fields of associated programdata in step 456, and may also display one or more user fields in step458. At step 460, the program guide provides a user with the opportunityto enter information into user fields 460. At step 462, the program,associated data and additional components are stored on digital storagedevice 49.

[0103] The program guide may also provide the user with the opportunityto record programs during television viewing at step 464. At step 466,the program guide generates a recording screen for display on monitor45. At step 468, the program guide provides the user with theopportunity to edit recording information, such as begin and end time.At step 470, the program guide provides the user with the opportunity toaccess the recording schedule screen. The program guide displays therecording schedule screen (step 410) or begins recording programs,associated data, and components (step 462) depending on the indicationfrom the user.

[0104]FIG. 18 illustrates steps involved in displaying program listingsand program listing information on monitor 45. The program guide maydisplay a program listings screen on monitor 45 at step 412. The programguide may include in the program listings screen a program listings grid(sub-step 470). At step 472, the program guide provides the user withthe opportunity to define and select organization criteria (e.g., theme,program type, etc.) and chose a sorting method (e.g., alphabetically)for organizing and sorting the listings. At step 474, the program guideprovides the user with the opportunity to select a program listing. Theprogram guide may also display on monitor 45 a program listingsinformation screen, such as program listings information screen 70 ofFIG. 6, indicating associated program listing information.

[0105] At step 478, the program guide may provide a list of on-screenoptions that the user can select to access program guide features. Forexample, there may be on-screen “record” and “super-program” options. Ifsuper-programs and stored entries are included in the program listingsscreen, the program guide may also provide on-screen “transfer” and“playback” options. The program guide displays programs, associateddata, and additional components at step 480. This may be program, data,and components of the selected listing. At step 480 the program guidemay also return the user to the program being viewed before the programlistings screen was accessed. Step 480 may also correspond to where theuser watches television programming before having accessed the programlistings screen.

[0106] Other steps involved in accessing programs and associated datastored on digital storage device 49 are set forth in FIG. 19. Theprogram guide stores programs and associated program data on digitalstorage device 49 at step 406. At step 488, the program guide maintainsa directory of the stored associated program data. At step 490, theprogram guide displays a directory listing screen, such as directorylisting screen 90 of FIG. 9, on monitor 45. The program guide indicatesdirectory entry information at step 492 (by, for example, displayingdirectory listing grid 92 of FIG. 9 on monitor 45), and provides a userwith the opportunity to select directory entry information at step 494.At step 495, the program guide provides the user with an on-screen listof options (e.g., “playback”, “transfer”, “super-program”, etc.).

[0107] Steps involved in displaying additional information for aselected entry are set forth in steps 496, 498, 500, and 502. At step496 the program guide displays a full entry information screen, such asfull entry information screen 100 of FIG. 10, on monitor 45. At step498, the program guide displays fields of directory entry information onmonitor 45, and at step 500 the program guide displays user-definedfields on monitor 45. At step 502, the program guide provides the userwith the opportunity to enter user information in the user-definedfields.

[0108] Steps involved in editing programs and associated program dataassociated with directory entry information are set forth in steps 504,506, 508, and 510 of FIG. 20. The program guide displays an edit screen,such as edit screen 110 of FIGS. 11a, 11 b, and 11 c, on monitor 45. Atstep 506, the program guide provides a user with the opportunity todefine the portions of stored programs and associated program data to beedited by the program guide. At step 508 the program guide displays avideo feedback area on monitor 45. The program guide edits the portionsof stored programs and associated data from digital storage device 45 atstep 510.

[0109] Steps involved in providing the global media library feature ofthe present invention are set forth in FIG. 21. At step 522, the programguide stores programs and associated program data on removable digitalstorage media in digital storage device 49. At step 524, the programguide maintains a global media library of the stored associated programdata. The program guide displays a global media library screen, such asglobal media library screen 250 of FIG. 13, on monitor 45 at step 526.At step 528 the program guide provides a user with the opportunity toselect a program indicated by the global media library screen. If thedigital storage medium containing the selected program is not loaded indigital storage device 49, the program guide displays on monitor 45 anindication that the storage medium is not loaded at step 530.

[0110] Steps involved in providing the super-program feature of thepresent invention are set forth in FIG. 22. The program guide storesprograms and associated program data on digital storage device 45 atstep 532. At step 534, the super-program sequence is defined. This maybe done by displaying a super-program screen, such as super-programscreen 130 of FIGS. 12a and 12 b, on monitor 45 as set forth in step536. Stored programs are indicated by the program guide on monitor 45 atstep 538, and the program guide provides a user with the opportunity toselect the indicated programs at step 540. The program guide displaysthe programs and associated program data which are part of thesuper-program sequence on monitor 45 according to the super-programsequence at step 550.

[0111] Further steps involved in providing the super-program feature areset forth in steps 524, 544, 546, and 548. At step 542, the programguide provides the user with the opportunity to define play segments.The program guide may display a play segment indicator and marker fordefining the play segment, as indicated by step 544. At step 546, theprogram guide displays a video feedback area on monitor 45. The programguide displays the play segments of programs and associated program dataon monitor 45 according to the super-program sequence at step 548.

[0112] The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of thisinvention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system in which programs and associated programdata are displayed for users by an interactive television program guideimplemented on user television equipment, comprising: means fordisplaying the programs and associated program data on the usertelevision equipment using the interactive television program guide; andmeans for digitally storing the programs and associated program data ina digital storage device contained in the user television equipmentusing the interactive television program guide.
 2. The system defined inclaim 1 wherein the display means further comprises means for displayinga set-up screen on the user television equipment using the interactivetelevision program guide.
 3. The system defined in claim 2 wherein theset-up screen comprises means for providing a user with an opportunityto define one or more storage options.
 4. The system defined in claim 3wherein the storage options comprise one or more storage optionsselected from the group consisting of: languages, video format,enforcement of parental control on storage, and auto-erasing viewedentries.
 5. The system defined in claim 4 further comprising means fordigitally storing the programs in a language on a digital storage devicewith the interactive television program guide using the language storageoption.
 6. The system defined in claim 4 further comprising means fordigitally storing the programs in a video format on a digital storagedevice with the interactive television program guide using the videoformat storage option.
 7. The system defined in claim 4 furthercomprising means for digitally storing the programs and associatedprogram data on a digital storage device with the interactive televisionprogram guide using the enforcement of parental control on storageoption.
 8. The system defined in claim 4 further comprising means forautomatically deleting programs and associated program data from adigital storage device with the interactive television program guideusing the auto-erase viewed entries storage option.
 9. The systemdefined in claim 2 wherein the set-up screen comprises means forproviding a user with an opportunity to define playback options.
 10. Thesystem defined in claim 9 wherein the playback options comprise one ormore playback options selected from the group consisting of: defaultlanguage, default video format, skip commercials.
 11. The system definedin claim 10 wherein the display means displays the digitally storedprograms and associated program data in a language on the usertelevision program equipment with the interactive television programguide using the default language playback option.
 12. The system definedin claim 10 wherein the display means displays the digitally storedprograms and program data in a video format on the user televisionequipment with the interactive television program guide using thedefault video format playback option.
 13. The system defined in claim 10further comprising: means for determining whether the digitally storedprograms contain advertising using the interactive television programguide; and wherein the display means skips displaying the advertisinginformation when displaying the digitally stored programs andprogramming data with the interactive television program guide using theskip commercials playback option.
 14. The system defined in claim 2wherein the set-up screen comprises means for providing a user with anopportunity to select components for display in screens that displayprogram information.
 15. The system defined in claim 1 wherein thedisplay means further comprises means for displaying a recordingschedule screen on the user television equipment using the interactivetelevision program guide.
 16. The system defined in claim 15 wherein therecording schedule screen comprises: an indication of the programscurrently scheduled for storage by the digital storage means; means forproviding a user with an opportunity to select one of the programs; andwherein the display means further comprises means for displaying aselected program listing information screen for the selected program onthe user television equipment using the interactive television programguide.
 17. The system defined in claim 16 wherein the selected programlisting information screen comprises one or more fields of associatedprogram data for the selected program.
 18. The system defined in claim17 wherein the selected program listing information screen furthercomprises: one or more user fields; and means for providing a user withan opportunity to enter user information into one or more of the userfields.
 19. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the display meansfurther comprises means for displaying a program listings screen on theuser television equipment using the interactive television programguide, the program listings screen comprising means for providing theuser with an opportunity to select a program listing.
 20. The systemdefined in claim 19 wherein the means for displaying a program listingsscreen further comprises means for displaying program listings insubsets of listings according to one or more organization criteria. 21.The system defined in claim 20 further comprising means for providing auser with an opportunity to select the organization criteria.
 22. Thesystem defined in claim 20 further comprising means for providing a userwith an opportunity to define the organization criteria.
 23. The systemdefined in claim 19 wherein the means for displaying a program listingsscreen further comprises means for displaying program listings in sortedlists according to sorting criteria.
 24. The system defined in claim 23further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity toselect the sorting criteria.
 25. The system defined in claim 19 whereinthe program listing screen comprises listings of programs stored by thedigital storage means.
 26. The system defined in claim 19 wherein thedisplay means further comprises means for displaying a program listingsinformation screen for the selected program listing on the usertelevision equipment using the interactive television program guide. 27.The system defined in claim 26 wherein the program listings informationscreen comprises one or more fields of associated program data selectedfrom the group consisting of: title, description, episode, channel,duration, viewed, cast members, category(ies), language, video format,start and end time, date, re-run indicator, stereo indicator,close-captioned indicator, and other information.
 28. The system definedin claim 25 wherein: the display means further comprises means fordisplaying one or more on-screen options; and further comprising meansfor providing a user with an opportunity to select an on-screen option.29. The system defined in claim 19 wherein the means for displayingprogram listings further comprises means for displaying program listingsin a program listings grid.
 30. The system defined in claim 29 whereinthe program listings grid contains one or more rows of listings ofprograms stored by the digital storage means.
 31. The system defined inclaim 1 wherein the display means further comprises means for displayingthe digitally stored programs and associated program data on the usertelevision equipment using the interactive television program guide toprovide users with an opportunity to access the associated program dataas if the programs and program data were being originally aired.
 32. Thesystem defined in claim 1 wherein the digital storage means furthercomprises means for digitally storing additional program components on adigital storage device.
 33. The system defined in claim 1 wherein theassociated program data comprises program listings data supplied by amain facility.
 34. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the associatedprogram data comprises user added information.
 35. The system defined inclaim 1 further comprising means for transferring the digitally storedprograms to a secondary storage device using the interactive televisionprogram guide.
 36. A system in which programs and associated programdata are displayed for users by an interactive television program guideimplemented on user television equipment, comprising: a digital storagedevice in the user television equipment for digitally storing theprograms and associated program data using the interactive televisionprogram guide; and means for maintaining a directory of the digitallystored associated program data using the interactive television programguide.
 37. The system define in claim 36 further comprising a means fordisplaying a directory listing screen on the user television equipmentusing the interactive television program guide.
 38. The system definedin claim 37 wherein the directory listing screen comprises: means forindicating directory entry information; and means for providing a userwith an opportunity to select directory entry information; wherein thedisplay means further comprises means for displaying a full entryinformation screen in response to the selection by a user of directoryinformation.
 39. The system defined in claim 38 wherein the full entryinformation screen comprises a plurality of fields of directory entryinformation selected from the group consisting of: title, description,episode, channel, duration, viewed, cast members, category(ies),language, video format, start and end time, date, re-run indicator,stereo indicator, close-captioned indicator, and other information. 40.The system defined in claim 39 wherein the full entry information screenfurther comprises: one or more user-defined fields; and means forproviding a user with an opportunity to enter user information in one ormore of the user-defined fields.
 41. The system defined in claim 36further comprising: means for displaying an edit screen; and means forediting portions of the digitally stored programs and associated programdata from the digital storage device using the interactive televisionprogram guide.
 42. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the editscreen comprises means for providing a user with an opportunity todefine the portions of the digitally stored programs and associatedprogram data edited by the editing means.
 43. The system defined inclaim 42 wherein the partial edit screen further comprises a videofeedback area.
 44. The system defined in claim 36 wherein: the digitalstorage device digitally stores the programs and associated program dataon removable digital storage media using the interactive televisionprogram guide; and the maintaining means maintains the digitally storedassociated program data in a global media library using the interactivetelevision program guide.
 45. The system defined in claim 44 furthercomprising means for displaying a global media library screen on theuser television equipment using the interactive television programguide.
 46. The system defined in claim 45 wherein: the global medialibrary screen comprises means for providing a user with an opportunityto select a program stored on the removable storage media; and means fordisplaying an indication that the removable storage medium containingthe selected program is not loaded in the digital storage device.
 47. Asystem in which programs and associated program data are displayed forusers by an interactive television program guide implemented on usertelevision equipment, comprising: a digital storage device in the usertelevision equipment for digitally storing the programs and associatedprogram data using the interactive television program guide; means fordefining a super-program sequence; and means for displaying the programsand segments of the programs and associated program data according tothe defined super-program sequence on the user television equipmentusing the interactive television program guide.
 48. The system definedin claim 47 wherein the defining means further comprises means fordisplaying a super-program screen on the user television equipment usingthe interactive television program guide.
 49. The system defined inclaim 48 wherein the super-program screen comprises: an area indicatingprograms stored on the digital storage device; and means for providing auser with an opportunity to select a program to be included in thesuper-program sequence.
 50. The system defined in claim 48 wherein: thesuper-program screen further comprises an area for providing a user withan opportunity to define play segments; and the display means furthercomprises means for displaying play segments of the programs andassociated program data according to the super-program sequence on theuser television equipment using the interactive television programguide.
 51. The system defined in claim 50 wherein the area for providinga user with an opportunity to define play segments comprises: a playsegment indicator; and one or more markers for defining the playsegment.
 52. The system defined in claim 48 wherein the super-programscreen further comprises a video feedback area.
 53. The system definedin claim 47 further comprising means for transferring the digitallystored programs according to the defined super-program to a secondarystorage device using the interactive television program guide.
 54. Amethod in which programs and associated program data are displayed forusers by an interactive television program guide implemented on usertelevision equipment, comprising the steps of: displaying the programsand associated program data on the user television equipment using theinteractive television program guide; and digitally storing the programsand associated program data in a digital storage device contained in theuser television equipment using the interactive television programguide.
 55. The method defined in claim 54 further comprising the step ofdisplaying a set-up screen on the user television equipment using theinteractive television program guide.
 56. The method defined in claim 55wherein the step of displaying a set-up screen further comprises thestep of providing a user with an opportunity to define one or morestorage options.
 57. The method defined in claim 56 wherein the step ofdisplaying a set-up screen further comprises the step of providing auser with an opportunity to define one or more storage options selectedfrom the group consisting of: languages, video format, enforcement ofparental control on storage, and auto-erasing viewed entries.
 58. Themethod defined in claim 57 further comprising the step of digitallystoring the programs in a language on a digital storage device with theinteractive television program guide using the language storage option.59. The method defined in claim 57 further comprising the step ofdigitally storing the programs in a video format on a digital storagedevice with the interactive television program guide using the videoformat storage option.
 60. The method defined in claim 57 furthercomprising the step of digitally storing the programs and associatedprogram data on a digital storage device with the interactive televisionprogram guide using the enforcement of parental control on storageoption.
 61. The method defined in claim 57 further comprising the stepof automatically deleting programs and associated program data from adigital storage device with the interactive television program guideusing the auto-erase viewed entries storage option.
 62. The methoddefined in claim 55 wherein the step of displaying a set-up screenfurther comprises the step of providing a user with an opportunity todefine playback options.
 63. The method defined in claim 55 wherein thestep of displaying a set-up screen further comprises the step ofproviding a user with an opportunity to define one or more playbackoptions selected from the group consisting of: default language, defaultvideo format, skip commercials.
 64. The method defined in claim 63further comprising the step of displaying the digitally stored programsand associated program data in a language on the user television programequipment with the interactive television program guide using thedefault language playback option.
 65. The method defined in claim 63further comprising the step of displaying the digitally stored programsand program data in a video format on the user television equipment withthe interactive television program guide using the default video formatplayback option.
 66. The method defined in claim 63 further comprisingthe steps of: determining whether the digitally stored programs containadvertising using the interactive television program guide; and skippingthe advertising information when displaying the digitally storedprograms and programming data with the interactive television programguide using the skip commercials playback option.
 67. The method definedin claim 55 further comprising the step of providing a user with anopportunity to select components for display in screens that displayprogram information.
 68. The method defined in claim 54 furthercomprising the step of displaying a recording schedule screen on theuser television equipment using the interactive television programguide.
 69. The method defined in claim 68 further comprising the stepsof: indicating the programs currently scheduled for storage by thedigital storage means; providing a user with an opportunity to selectone of the programs; and displaying a selected program listinginformation screen for the selected program on the user televisionequipment using the interactive television program guide.
 70. The methoddefined in claim 69 wherein the step of displaying a selected programlisting information screen comprises the step of displaying one or morefields of associated program data for the selected program.
 71. Themethod defined in claim 70 further comprising the steps of: displayingone or more user fields; and providing a user with an opportunity toenter user information into one or more of the user fields.
 72. Themethod defined in claim 54 further comprising the steps of: displaying aprogram listings screen on the user television equipment using theinteractive television program guide; and providing the user with anopportunity to select a program listing.
 73. The method defined in claim72 wherein the means for displaying program listings further comprisesmeans for displaying program listings in subsets of listings accordingto one or more organization criteria.
 74. The method defined in claim 73further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity toselect the organization criteria.
 75. The method defined in claim 73further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity todefine the organization criteria.
 76. The method defined in claim 72further comprising the step of displaying program listings in sortedlists according to sorting criteria.
 77. The method defined in claim 76further comprising the step of providing the user with an opportunity toselect the sorting criteria.
 78. The method defined in claim 72 whereinthe step of displaying a program listings screen further comprises thestep of displaying listings of programs stored on a digital storagedevice.
 79. The method defined in claim 78 further comprising the stepof displaying a program listings information screen for the selectedprogram listing on the user television equipment using the interactivetelevision program guide.
 80. The method defined in claim 79 wherein thestep of displaying a program listings information screen furthercomprises the step of displaying one or more fields of associatedprogram data selected from the group consisting of: title, description,episode, channel, duration, viewed, cast members, category(ies),language, video format, start and end time, date, re-run indicator,stereo indicator, close-captioned indicator, and other information. 81.The method defined in claim 78 further comprising the steps of:displaying one or more on-screen options; and providing a user with anopportunity to select an on-screen option.
 82. The method defined inclaim 72 wherein the step of displaying program listings furthercomprises the step of displaying program listings in a program listingsgrid.
 83. The method defined in claim 72 wherein the step of displayinga program listings grid further comprises the step of displaying one ormore rows of listings of programs stored by the digital storage means.84. The method defined in claim 54 further comprising the step ofdisplaying the digitally stored programs and associated program data onthe user television equipment using the interactive television programguide to provide users with an opportunity to access the associatedprogram data as if the programs and program data were being originallyaired.
 85. The method defined in claim 54 further comprising the step ofdigitally storing additional program components on a digital storagedevice.
 86. The method defined in claim 54 further comprising the stepof providing a user with an opportunity to provide user addedinformation.
 87. The method defined in claim 54 further comprising thestep of transferring the digitally stored programs to a secondarystorage device using the interactive television program guide.
 88. Amethod in which programs and associated program data are displayed forusers by an interactive television program guide implemented on usertelevision equipment, comprising the steps of: digitally storing theprograms and associated program data using the interactive televisionprogram guide; and maintaining a directory of the digitally storedassociated program data using the interactive television program guide.89. The method define in claim 88 further comprising the step ofdisplaying a directory listing screen on the user television equipmentusing the interactive television program guide.
 90. The method definedin claim 89 further comprising the steps of: indicating directory entryinformation; and providing a user with an opportunity to selectdirectory entry information; displaying a full entry information screenin response to the selection by a user of directory information.
 91. Themethod defined in claim 90 further comprising the step of displaying aplurality of fields of directory entry information selected from thegroup consisting of: title, description, episode, channel, duration,viewed, cast members, category(ies), language, video format, start andend time, date, re-run indicator, stereo indicator, close-captionedindicator, and other information.
 92. The method defined in claim 91further comprising the steps of: displaying one or more user-definedfields; and providing a user with an opportunity to enter userinformation in one or more of the user-defined fields.
 93. The methoddefined in claim 88 further comprising the steps of: displaying an editscreen; and editing portions of the digitally stored programs andassociated program data from the digital storage device using theinteractive television program guide.
 94. The method defined in claim 93further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity todefine the portions of the digitally stored programs and associatedprogram data edited by the editing means.
 95. The method defined inclaim 94 further comprising the step of providing a video feedback area.96. The method defined in claim 88 further comprising the steps of:digitally storing the programs and associated program data on removabledigital storage media using the interactive television program guide;and maintaining the digitally stored associated program data in a globalmedia library using the interactive television program guide.
 97. Themethod defined in claim 96 further comprising the step of displaying aglobal media library screen on the user television equipment using theinteractive television program guide.
 98. The method defined in claim 97further comprising the steps of: providing a user with an opportunity toselect a program stored on the removable storage media; and displayingan indication that the removable storage medium containing the selectedprogram is not loaded in the digital storage device.
 99. A method inwhich programs and associated program data are displayed for users by aninteractive television program guide implemented on user televisionequipment, comprising the steps of: digitally storing the programs andassociated program data using the interactive television program guide;defining a super-program sequence; and displaying the programs andsegments of the programs and associated program data according to thedefined super-program sequence on the user television equipment usingthe interactive television program guide.
 100. The method defined inclaim 99 further comprising the step of displaying a super-programscreen on the user television equipment using the interactive televisionprogram guide.
 101. The method defined in claim 100 further comprisingthe steps of: indicating programs stored on the digital storage device;and providing a user with an opportunity to select a program to beincluded in the super-program sequence.
 102. The method defined in claim100 further comprising the steps of: providing a user with anopportunity to define play segments; and displaying play segments of theprograms and associated program data according to the super-programsequence on the user television equipment using the interactivetelevision program guide.
 103. The method defined in claim 102 furthercomprising the steps of: displaying a play segment indicator; andproviding one or more markers for defining the play segment.
 104. Themethod defined in claim 100 further comprising the step of providing avideo feedback area.
 105. The method defined in claim 99 furthercomprising the step of transferring the digitally stored programsaccording to the defined super-program to a secondary storage deviceusing the interactive television program guide.